Claim
The Indian government is currently constructing a Chenab-Beas link tunnel on the Chenab river so that its water can be diverted to other rivers.
“इस समय भारत सरकार चिनाब नदी पर एक चिनाब व्यास लिंक टनल का निर्माण कर रही है ताकि इसके पानी को दूसरी नदियों तक लाया जा सके।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
The core claim is correct: the Indian government has a real Chenab–Beas Link Tunnel project (an 8.7-km inter-basin tunnel, ~Rs 2,352–2,600 crore, implemented by NHPC in Himachal Pradesh) designed to divert surplus water from the Chenab basin (via its upper Chandra/Bhaga tributaries) into the Beas river system, advanced after the Indus Waters Treaty was placed in abeyance in 2025. The only imprecision is the phrase 'is currently constructing': as of the 1 July 2026 broadcast the project had been approved and put out to e-tender (one NHPC tender was even issued and cancelled in May 2026), with reports saying work was 'likely to begin soon' — so full-scale physical construction had barely started. The substance of the claim is accurate; the construction stage is slightly overstated.
Evidence
- https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/indus-waters-push-india-fast-tracks-rs-2600-crore-87-km-inter-basin-water-diversion-tunnel-and-desilting-projects India is fast-tracking an 8.7-km Chenab–Beas inter-basin water-diversion tunnel to move water from the Chandra/Bhaga (upper Chenab tributaries) westward into the Beas basin — confirms a real government project diverting Chenab-system water to another river. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.gktoday.in/chenab-beas-river-link-project-approved-in-himachal-pradesh/ Centre approved the Chenab–Beas Link Tunnel (~Rs 2,352 crore) in Himachal Pradesh in May 2026, an inter-basin transfer diverting surplus Chenab-basin water into the Beas. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-s-chenab-beas-river-link-project-and-its-impact-on-the-indus-water-treaty-1781178144651/amp Describes the ~Rs 2,600 crore Chenab–Beas link tunnel diverting ~1.9 MAF of Chenab water annually to the Beas basin, tied to the Indus Waters Treaty being in abeyance since 2025. ✗ unreachable · HTTP 403
- https://thenewshimachal.com/2026/05/centre-clears-chenab-beas-link-tunnel-project-work-likely-to-begin-soon/ Reports the Centre cleared the project with 'work likely to begin soon'; NHPC's Link-3 tender was published 20 May 2026 and cancelled 23 May 2026 — indicating the project was at approval/tender stage rather than active physical construction as of the broadcast. ✓ reachable · archived